Engine



April 15 1924; 1,490,294

' N. A. STEFFEN 'ENGINE Filed Aug. 29 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M'aa/w fi /f? April 15 .1924. 1,490,294

. N. A. STEFFEN I ENGINE I Filed Aug. 29, 1922 2 SheetS-Sheet? gwuenkoz Patented Apr. 15;, 1924.

NICKOLAS A. STEFFEN, OF NEW VIENNA, IOWA.

ENGINE.

Application filed August 29, 1922. Serial No. 585,036.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NIoKoLAs A. STEFFEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at 7 New Vienna, in the county of Dubuque, State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in engines, and particularly to explosive engines.

One object of the invention is to provide an explosive engine of novel construction, by means of which the power and elficiency is greatly increased.

Another object of the invention is to pro- 2 vide a construction wherein the power cylinder of the engine is of greater length than the compression cylinder, and the stroke of the power piston greater than that of the compression piston.

A further object resides in a novel and improved form of slide-Way and cross-head.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 7

In the drawings, 7

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an engine made in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the crosshead and slideway, on the line 44 of Figure 2. to Referring particularly to the accompanying drawings, 10 represents a bed on which are mounted the cylinders 11 and 12, the same being disposed in parallel relation. It will be noted that the cylinder 11 is shorter 46 than the cylinder 12, and that its opposite ends are disposed at equal distances inwardly of the ends of the cylinder 12, the reason of which will be later explained. The cylinders 11 and 12 are mounted at one end of the base, and at the other end of the base are disposed bearings 13 which support the transverse shaft 14, having the cranks 15 and 16, of different lengths. On one end of the shaft 14 is'a fly wheel carrying a governor, while on the-other end of;

the shaft is mounted asecond fly-wheel 17 the first fly-wheel being numbered 17, while the governor is indicated by the numeral 14..

Extending from the inner ends of the cylinders to a point. adjacent the shaft 14:, is a slideway which includes the longitudinal 0ppositely arranged angle members 18 connected by the lower transverse strips 19. Secured to the upper wing of each of the angle members 18 and extending laterally outward therefrom, is a hanger plate 20, which is securely bolted to the bed 10. A

double cone-shaped block 21 is disposed for slidable movement in each pair of the members 18 and has the angular end portions 22' vwhich properly fit for sliding movement in the channelsof the members 18. The intermediate portion of each of the blocks 21 has a connecting member in the form of a shaft 23, with which one of the pitmen 2d, and 25 is the larger crank 15, is connected with the pitman 24, while the other or shorter crank 16 is connected with the pitman 25. In the cylinder 11 is a piston 25, having a rod or stem 26 connected with the other block 21.

means'of the rod or stem 28. Suitable valves 29 are provided for introducing a gaseous mixture into the cylinder 11, and a valve 30 for permitting discharge of said mixture, under pressure, into the cylinder 12. The center of one side of the cylinder 12 is provided with an outlet or exhaustopening, communicating directly between the cylinder and the atmosphere.

The cylinder 11 and its piston are arranged to receive and compress a gaseous In the cylinder 12 is a piston 27 which is connected with the block 21 by mixture, and to discharge the same into first one end of the cylinder and then into the other end, to be ignited by the spark plugs 31 and 32, disposed in the ends of the cylinder.

The stroke of the piston of the cylinder 11 is approximately eight inches, while that of the piston of the cylinder 12 is approximately ten inches, and the exhaust opening 12 so arranged that the burnt gases in the cylinder 12 will be exhausted before, or at the same instant that a live charge is being introduced'in the end of the cylinder.

The cranks, the cylinder lengths, the

valves and exhaust opening are so propor- What is claimedis:

I slideway mounted onthe base and including 1 a ,An explosive engine including a base, a

' longitudinally extending channel members, hangers supportingthe channel members,

spacing members connecting the channel members, and a slide movable in the channel members and comprising a block having conical end portions connected at their inner ends by a shaft portion, and having their outer or larger ends angular for the purpose if properly fitting into said channel memers;

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

NICKOLAS A. STEFFEN. Witnesses:

W. A. ROHENHOHL, A. A. WUCHTER. 

